Hello, I Love You

This article is about the song by The Doors. For the similarly-named song by Roger Waters, see Hello (I Love You).

"Hello, I Love You"
Song
B-side	"Love Street"

"Hello, I Love You" is a song by The Doors from their 1968 album Waiting for the Sun. It was released as a single that same year, reaching #1 in the United States, and selling over a million copies in the U.S. alone. This was one of the six songs performed by Rick & the Ravens on the demo for Aura Records in 1965.

Some pressings of the single list the title as Hello I Love You, Won't Tell Me Your Name?.

Personell

• Robby Krieger - fuzz guitar
• Jim Morrison - vocals
• Ray Manzarek - organ, keyboard bass, backing vocals
• John Densmore - drums

Allegations of plagiarism

In the liner notes to The Doors Box set, Robbie Krieger has denied the allegations that the song's musical structure was stolen from Ray Davies, where a riff similar to it is featured in the song "All Day and All of the Night". Instead, he said the song's vibe was taken from Cream's song "Sunshine of Your Love". Krieger's involvement in the song's writing process is debatable, much due to the fact the song was first recorded in mid-1965, prior to Krieger joining the band. However, Ray Davies of the Kinks, sued the Doors for plagiarizing the tune, and won the damages.

Real life influences

The last verse was written by Jim Morrison, three years prior to the album recordings, while he was observing an attractive African-American woman at Venice Beach.

"Sidewalk crouches at her feet,
like a dog that begs for something sweet,
do you hope to make her see you, fool,
do you hope to pluck this dusky jewel"

Cover versions

The song has been covered by Alex Naumik, Buddy Rich, Missing Persons, The Cure (on the compilation Rubáiyát, 1990), Eurythmics, Simple Minds, Anal Cunt, Adam Ant, Adam Freeland, Program the Dead, and Siouxsie Sioux.

It is also referenced in The Dresden Dolls' song "The Perfect Fit" and Pulp's "Dogs Are Everywhere".